NAPOLEON'S TOMB THE CRYPT.

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modate nearly thirty thousand persons. Candelebra of vast size adorned and illuminated the church, and in front of the altar was a magnificent catafalque, covered with violet-colored velvet, and this adorned with imperial emblems to receive the sarcophagus. The pall-bearers were Bertrand, Gourgaud, and the surviving marshals of the empire. The king and his family were present. How much Louis Philippe was accessory to his own dethronement, is a question that may well be pondered.

The body was then placed in a chapel of this church, which was itself elaborately fitted up. But the government immediately addressed itself to the preparation of a tomb befitting the greatest man who ever ruled in France. It would take a volume to describe the gorgeous arrangements for this unrivalled sepulchre. I have, therefore, preferred to give a good engraving of the entrance to the crypt; and through the door-way is seen the tomb itself, and the monuments of Duroc and Bertrand are seen on either side.

The tomb is surmounted by a marble balustrade breast-high, and the entrance-door is guarded by two colossal funeral genii. This engraving shows the high altar of the church, as you enter the edifice. The other side, towards the tomb, is still more elaborate. The altar, the balustrade around it, the hand-rail and the pedestals which support the candelebra, are formed of black marble from the Pyrenees and green marble from the Alps. Over the door-way leading to the tomb is Bonaparte's dying request: I DESIRE THAT MY ASHES MAY REPOSE ON THE BANKS OF THE SEINE, IN THE MIDST OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE, WHOM I LOVED SO WELL."

The crypt is a circular gallery, of about seven or eight feet wide, with a central space, formed by twelve marble arches, and the before-named balustrade connecting them with each other; and between these arches are twelve caryatides, fifteen feet high. The sarcophagus stands in the centre, with the ends towards the doors.

This gallery around is paved with mosaics, and its wall is thrown into divisions, which correspond with the arches of the centre work. The doors of the crypt and reliquary occupy two of these divisions, and the other ten are devoted to marble basreliefs. Twelve bronze lamps are suspended from the roof of this circular gallery. The bas-reliefs are the exquisite production of Simard, and are allegorical representations of the great acts and institutions of the emperor's reign. The subjects are the Institution of the Legion of Honor, Encouragement of Commerce and Industry, Public Works, Establishment of the Audit Office, Establishment of the University of France, the Concordat, the Civil Code, the Foundation of the Council of State, Organization of Public Administration, Pacification of Civil Troubles.

The mosaics in the passage leading to the tomb are very rich, and here are two of them. A larger one is an eagle surmounted

by the imperial diadem. Each of the caryatides, with the pillar against which it stands, is formed of a single block of marble. The sarcophagus is very imposing from its simplicity. It is composed of quartz gritstone, and was procured from a quarry in Russia. The cover is of one slab. The coffin, of tin, is enclosed in mahogany; this has two cases of lead, and over all is an ebony coffin. The sarcophagus itself is lined with gray Corsican granite. Here, then, will lie the remains of Na

RELIQUARY - ALTAR AND BALDAQUIN.

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poleon Bonaparte till the last trumpet shall sound, and all ranks shall be abolished, and he will stand with the humblest of his subjects before the King eternal —unless the good pleasure of Parisians shall by and by decide upon pulling down what they formerly built up with so much enthusiasm.

The Reliquary, or sword-room, is a very elegant apartment, lined with white marble. Directly facing the door stands a marble statue of Napoleon in imperial costume, the sceptre in one hand and a globe in the other. In front of this statue is a pedestal of dark porphyry, from Finland, on which is a rich bronze cushion, where repose the hat which Napoleon wore at Austerlitz, his sword used at that battle, his epaulettes, orders, and a gold crown. On either side is a tripod supporting the flags which are identified with his military exploits. On the walls are recorded the names of battles in which he commanded in person. The pavement of this apartment is inlaid with mosaic medallions, descriptive of imperial power.

I think the Altar and Baldaquin exceed in magnificence any work of man that I have ever seen; and, standing before it and looking around upon the entire scene, I feel that all of earthly splendor that this world has witnessed in the monumental art must pale before this sepulchral chef-d'œuvre. Twelve years have been devoted to this national labor, and it is now nearly finished. Our guide was one of the Old Guard who accompanied Napoleon to Elba and St. Helena, and is now the custodian of his tomb. We saw the coffin in a chapel, where it lies in great magnificence, awaiting its final removal.

During all my visits to Paris, which have been in June, July, December, January and February, I have been observant of the weather and climate. I have noticed no fogs nor mists. The air is dry, and those who have had a tendency to cough, bronchial irritation, or asthmatical symptoms, are always relieved. In no place have I felt the state of the skin so healthy as in this city. In all cases where invalids visit Paris and find that

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OVERTURES MADE TO MR. VANDERBILT.

they improve, I think they would do well to abide quietly. I have seen bad consequences ensue from not letting well-enough satisfy. We all, as a party, had our health perfectly in Paris; enjoyed every hour of our visit, and left this beautiful city with regret.

I ought to mention that our stay in Paris was one of nineteen days. During our abode here several gentlemen and noblemen called on Mr. Vanderbilt, expressing an earnest wish to have him identify himself with a new steam-ship line which the government proposed to open with North, South and Central America. To these overtures, which were urged in the most flattering terms, Mr. Vanderbilt gave no encouragement; but freely communicated his views, and offered the results of his experience. The subject was afterwards revived, and the most pressing invitations to revisit Paris were forwarded to Mr. Vanderbilt at Constantinople, and the first names in France, both civilians and capitalists, were involved in the proposal. And had Mr. Vanderbilt gone abroad with any desire to advance his interests by commercial operations, the opportunities afforded him were as brilliant as a business man could desire. But his aims and objects were strictly private, and personal enjoyment and the happiness of his circle was all he attempted.

Having finished our business with Mr. Woodman, the prince of tailors, and Forr, the best shoemaker in Paris, we took the train of cars for Rouen, which is eighty-four miles from Paris. Our route lay on the banks of the Seine, and we passed through Clichy, Colombes, where the queen of Charles I. died in poverty; Poissy, Meulan, Mantes, where William the Conqueror met his death-wound; Rosny, the favorite residence of the great Sully. On our way we noticed some exceedingly fine churches, of apparently an early date. The town of Vernon is a finelooking old place. Every time I pass this road I long to make a sauntering tour along the banks of the Seine. How much I wanted to make a tarry in Andelys, Gaillard, and other sweet